As far as I know people don't even agree on when it was written. And I don't mean the month, some say 1704 others say 1750. Though, I haven't heard anyone claim it wasn't Bach.
Part of the problem is that you're comparing classics that have survived the test of time against your average stuff going through the test.
The sixties had a ton of shit that will never be played again. But we think the music is better then today because what survives is better then what gets played.
As for complexity. You're making a comparison of full orchestral arrangements against four man bands or niggers with a beat box. Completely impossible for the two to exist in the same arena. Also orchestras have not become less complex. A decade ago I went to one that was doing star trek music. Shit blew me away.
We may be in an artistic slump, we may also just be in an exploratory phase, but I still see gems coming out of unexpected places.
Then why didn't anything from the 1940s, 50s, 70s and 90s survive the test? Or the 1930s and 1920s for that matter? That sounds like a faulty argument.
My main point is that music got delegated to the background. It's not made with the expectation that people will sit down and concentrate on listening to it anymore. Which I blame for the decrease in complexity. These days, it is expected that you concentrate on something else while listening to music.
Peaked is kinda subjective. Music is always evolving and different styles and genres come and go. Of course Bach and Mozart, et al, were exceptional composers, raising musical theory to new heights. Music has always been a reflection, or inspiration, of cultures of the time and provides a myriad of connections. But yeah, I agree "classical" music emphasized a peak of sorts in their compositions.
Most will agree, I think, music of the last decade has ceased to be artists that communicate, being replaced by corporate products for profit. We all relate to the music of our youth as that's a time of brain development that lends itself to forming attachments.
There has been at least one study showing that music of the last sixty years or so continuously lost complexity. I don't think it's even possible to make the argument that music today is on par with music a few hundred years ago.
Personally, I do not really relate to the music of my youth. Music of that time was crap. The 1960s and 1980s had some good stuff mixed in, though. Sure, it's the stuff you turn on in the background, not the kind of thing you go to an opera to listen for five hours to it.
I guess radio really killed music. It ceased to be something you pay for to pay attention to. Instead it became background noise. The so call loudness wars further prevented music from standing out. Gone were the silent and loud parts of it replaced with the same level of loudness throughout. Really a shame.
Yes I know this stuff, but is it really music you're going to sit down and concentrate on listening to enjoy or is it something you play while doing something else? My argument is that music lost complexity because the way it is consumed changed from the main focus to the background. This means that music isn't allowed to get in the way of the main thing you are doing. It's not supposed to grab your attention away anymore.
Dance music back then was still allowed to do that. People were dancing to the music, after all. They weren't dancing by themselves and having random stuff play in the background. They danced according to the music. If the music changed, the dance changed. And I mean the music within a given piece, not having a different song. But this aspect kinda got lost with time. Just like pair dancing was kinda lost. Now everyone dances for themselves, it seems.
[ + ] frankenham
[ - ] frankenham 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 15:34:12 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Wahaha
[ - ] Wahaha [op] 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 17:49:30 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] patchCodeUnsuccessful
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The sixties had a ton of shit that will never be played again. But we think the music is better then today because what survives is better then what gets played.
As for complexity. You're making a comparison of full orchestral arrangements against four man bands or niggers with a beat box. Completely impossible for the two to exist in the same arena. Also orchestras have not become less complex. A decade ago I went to one that was doing star trek music. Shit blew me away.
We may be in an artistic slump, we may also just be in an exploratory phase, but I still see gems coming out of unexpected places.
[ + ] Wahaha
[ - ] Wahaha [op] 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 17:45:25 ago (+0/-0)
My main point is that music got delegated to the background. It's not made with the expectation that people will sit down and concentrate on listening to it anymore. Which I blame for the decrease in complexity. These days, it is expected that you concentrate on something else while listening to music.
[ + ] Teefinyomouf
[ - ] Teefinyomouf 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 17:56:00 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] Zyklonbeekeeper
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[ - ] Wahaha [op] 1 point 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 15:16:42 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] COF
[ - ] COF 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 15:01:35 ago (+0/-0)
Most will agree, I think, music of the last decade has ceased to be artists that communicate, being replaced by corporate products for profit. We all relate to the music of our youth as that's a time of brain development that lends itself to forming attachments.
[ + ] Wahaha
[ - ] Wahaha [op] 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 15:15:13 ago (+0/-0)
Personally, I do not really relate to the music of my youth. Music of that time was crap. The 1960s and 1980s had some good stuff mixed in, though. Sure, it's the stuff you turn on in the background, not the kind of thing you go to an opera to listen for five hours to it.
I guess radio really killed music. It ceased to be something you pay for to pay attention to. Instead it became background noise. The so call loudness wars further prevented music from standing out. Gone were the silent and loud parts of it replaced with the same level of loudness throughout. Really a shame.
[ + ] patchCodeUnsuccessful
[ - ] patchCodeUnsuccessful 0 points 3.8 yearsSep 17, 2021 20:07:52 ago (+0/-0)
1930 : sixteen tons
1940 : You are my sunshine
1950 : Elvis
I'm sure you've heard most of this stuff. May not be too your liking, but you've heard it.
But I do see your point about listen vs background noise. You could say the same about dance music vs operetta.
Edit. Wrong location for response. I hate being away from my comp.
[ + ] Wahaha
[ - ] Wahaha [op] -1 points 3.8 yearsSep 18, 2021 05:10:57 ago (+0/-1)
Dance music back then was still allowed to do that. People were dancing to the music, after all. They weren't dancing by themselves and having random stuff play in the background. They danced according to the music. If the music changed, the dance changed. And I mean the music within a given piece, not having a different song. But this aspect kinda got lost with time. Just like pair dancing was kinda lost. Now everyone dances for themselves, it seems.
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